PMAC Mission

Gabriela Silang General Hospital
Vigan City
January 18-21,2012

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love”.

This is the inspiration line embossed in each missionary’s shirt during the Medical, Dental, Optha, Cataract, Minor and Major Surgical Mission held at Gabriela Silang General Hospital (GSGH) and simultaneously at the municipalities of Sta. Catalina, San Esteban, Sta. Maria and the City of Vigan. 

The missionaries of the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago (PMAC) headed by Dr. Edward Hernaez has benevolently conducted the 4-day mission in the province of Ilocos Sur.  Affiliate partners of the PMAC were the PMAC Foundation, the FEU Medical Alumni Association of Northern Illinois (FEUMAANI), Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur, JCS Foundation Inc., the Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Local Committee on Sight Preservation (LCSP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Dental Team, UP-PGH and FEU Medical Teams.

A welcome dinner-program was prepared by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur at the very accommodating residence of Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson.  It was an acquaintance night followed by a show of the ever famous “burning bush” of Baluarte where everyone was amazed.

Major operations were done at the Operating Room of the GSGH. The following were the operations done: thyroidectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, herniorraphy, cholecystectomy, and TAHBSO, and uterine myoma.

Minor surgeries were catered at the OPD where on-the-spot consultation and screening are still being entertained for qualified patients. Surgeries include mass excision, dermoid cyst, etc.  Dr. Pablito Barroga of LCSP together with the Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind served cataract patients during the mission.

Mission ended with an Appreciation Night on January 21, where Lyric Cinema offered its grandeur conference hall.  It was a memorable night for everyone where everybody flashed their precious party dresses, dancing shoes and gadgets.

The following are the statistics of patients served during the mission:

           

Major Operation………..   92

            Minor Operation……….. 134

            Cataract Operation…….. 83

            San Esteban Mission:   813 patients were served in the ff.                             categories:

                        Adult:                   264

                        Dental:                   60

                        Pedia:                  159

                        Reading glass:    277

                        Blood sugar:          44

                        Nutrition:                   9

                                               

            Sta. Maria Mission

Adult                    437

Dental                  168

Pedia                   312

Refraction/

Opthalmology      176

Reading Glass     500

Blood Sugar           35

Nutrition                    9    

                                              ------------

Total                 1,637

            Sta. Catalina Mission

Adult                    413

Dental                    93

Pedia                   274

Reading Glass    452

Blood Sugar          23

                           Nutrition             11 

                                                ----------

                        Total                  1,266

                       

            Vigan City (VCTC)

Adult                    390

Dental                    48

Pedia                   193

Refraction/

Opthalmology      103

Reading Glass     282

Blood Sugar           28

Nutrition                   7

                        -----------

Total                  1,051

CMMS Medical Mission

Gabriela Silang General Hospital, Vigan City

February 7 – 11, 2011



The Gabriela Silang General Hospital

The Canadian Medical Mission Society (CMMS) productively had their medical mission at Gabriela Silang General hospital last February 7 – 11, 2011 which was headed by Dr. Dan Vargas.  Since 2003, Dr. Dan Vargas was joining medical mission and now he organized Canadian Medical Mission Society where most of the 32 members are family members and close friends.  

Last February 6, 2011, 10:00 a.m., the CMMS came to Vigan City and was billeted at Vigan Plaza Hotel.  Before noon time, the group brought their medical supplies at Gabriela Silang General Hospital (GSGH) to prepare their stuffs for the mission.  Before the hard excruciating week-long mission, they toured around the Heritage City from Hidden Garden to Baluarte where they took their dinner.  After the feast, the CMMS strong-willed to return at GSGH to screen the patients that will go through to major surgical operation and they concluded at 10:00 pm then came back to hotel and steel their selves for the medical mission.

The patients of the Canadian Medical Mission Society at GSGH

February 7, 2011, the first day of the CMMS Medical Mission, the Gabriela Silang General Hospital was crowded with visitors and patients.  The services given by the CMMS were:

Medical-OPD,
Dental
          Tooth extraction
          Cleaning
          Filling (pasta)
Audiology
          Hearing aide fitting
          Audiometry
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) check-up
Major surgical operation (neck and thyroid cases)

The two (2) year old Michaela Versoza was the youngest patient and even the first patient who undertook surgical operation.  The mass in her left neck was removed in just ten (10) minutes.

JCS and CMMS Dr. Dan Vargas

From the time when CMMS medical mission started, the JCS Foundation was earnestly providing the needs of the CMMS and patients.  Hand in hand with the JCS Foundation were the following: staff, nurses and doctors of GSGH, nursing students from University of Northern Philippines and employees of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Government.  With the evident teamwork and cooperation of the CMMS, the mission was conducted smoothly since each CMMS member knew exactly their assigned tasks and duties.

The first day surgical operation of CMMS

The following were the CMMS team in charge with surgical operation:

Dr. Dan Vargas                     - Head of the CMMS medical mission

  and Otolaryngologist

Dr. Andrew Wong                 - General Surgery

Dr. Ed Jose                           - Otolaryngologist

Dr. Eli Akbari                         - Physician

Dr. Danilo Villacrusis            - Pathologist, Surgery

Dr. Naia Arafiles                   - Anaesthesiologist

Dr. Winette Tayao                 - Anaesthesiologist

Dr. Joy Bellen                        - Anaesthesiologist

Dr. Archie Carbungeal         - Surgery

Dr. Micro Galicia                   - Surgery

Rey Borge                              - Surgical Nurse

Cornelia Valencia                 - Surgical Nurse

Nowie Mejia                           - Surgical Nurse

Elsie Igualada                        - Surgical Nurse

Maria Paz Villacrusis            - Nurse

Beth Dickinson                      - Nurse

Leony Cajigas                       - Nurse

Ceasar Cajigas                     - Engineer, Support Staff

Rene Trinidad                        - Sales Agent, Support Staff

CMMS Dr. Danny Salcedo

Dental services (tooth extraction, cleaning and filling/ pasta) were delivered by:

Dr. Danilo Salcedo               - Dentist

Dr. Victor Moiseev                - Dentist

Nida Marcelo                         - Dental Nurse

            Jose Atilano III                        - Dental Nurse

CMMS Maria Greaves on Audiology

          For audio services (Hearing aide fitting, audiometry), the following were the assigned person:

Maria Greaves          - Audiometric Technician

Toni Vargas              - Nurse

       On personal note, the oscillation created from the hearing aide device sounded very wonderful and clear.  The devices were granted by CMMS audio technician Maria Greaves.

The medical-OPD by CMMS Dr. Rosemary Lim

            For Medical- OPD team:

Dr. Rosemary Lim                - Physician

Rosita Casilla                       - Nurse

          With the veteran Dr. Rosemary Lim, she has managed to assure the patients she checked-up a healthier and wealthier body with her material pieces of specialist advices.

CMMS Dr. Dan Vargas, Ears, Nose and Throat specialist

            Finally, for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) check up, the group was composed of:

Dr. Dan Vargas        - Otolaryngologist

Dr. Ed Jose               - Otolaryngologist

           Dr. Dan Vargas, in addition to normal check-ups, he offered valuable assistance and tips on how to take care of the senses connected with the ENT.

         Spouses Archt. Henry and Evelyn Mayuga were the coordinators of the CMMS medical mission while Rene Trinidad was the stock controller and Bodeng Juatco performed the documentation of the medical mission.

          Last February 9, 2011, the CMMS conducted a lecture program titled “Want to Work in North America?” at Baluarte led by Maria Paz Villacrusis, RN, a member of the BC Nurses Union (british Columbia).  The lecture was participated by various nurses and doctors in multiple fields, i.e., the academe, the government, hospitals and others.

The Farewell Dinner of CMMS and JCS Foundation

         With light rain from the cloudy sky that serves as sign of blessings, the farewell dinner party at Vigan Plaza Hotel last February 10, 2011 turned into clear and incredibly unforgettable night of Canadian Medical Mission Society and the JCS Foundation. The group experienced once again the triumph and brotherhood of the medical mission.

The flourishing CMMS medical mission had total of 471 patients from February 7- 11, 2011. There was entirety of:

243       Medical- OPD

117       Dental services

54         Audiology

36         Ears, Nose and Throat check up

21         Major surgical operations




For more CMMS medical mission photos, click on CMMS